Drone Footage of Ester Community Park

Our beautiful Ester Park! Drone footage by Ryan Osborne with Mark Simpson.
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Ester Easter Egg hunt

It’s time for the annual Easter egg hunt!!

DROP OFF EGGS: Noon – 1 p.m.
Children 11 and under bring 6 decorated eggs to the Ester Community Hall. Label container with child’s name and age.

HIDING EGGS: 1:30
Anyone 12 and older can help hide eggs.

EGG HUNT: 2 p.m.
Groups will be: ages 1-2 (indoor or on deck); ages 3-5 outside Hartung Hall, ages 6-8 JTEL Clausen Cabin and ages 9-11 at the Ester Gold Camp.Egg hunting starts at the community hall with the youngest group first. Then the group will walk to the next two locations, and return back to Hartung Hall after searching.

Best parking location is the lot across from the Golden Eagle Saloon. Everything is in walking distance from there.The ECA will provide prize eggs for each age group, the Easter Bunny and snacks to share following the hunt.

Be creative: creative judging for creative decorating!

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Ester Community Gears Up for Inaugural Community Planning Session

Ester, a community renowned for its do-it-yourself ethos and close-knit bonds, announces its first-ever Community Planning Meeting. The facilitated session will be held on September 17 from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Flossie & May’s within the iconic Ester Gold Camp.

This milestone event is poised to serve as a platform for Ester residents and stakeholders – old-timers and newcomers alike – to contribute their insights, ideas, and aspirations for the community, and collaboratively mold the town’s future.

RSVP and learn more on our Community Planning Page.

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Ester Independence Day Parade & Pig Roast Potluck

A parade entrant with antique car offers a bribe to parade judges
Bribing the judges.

THE PARADE:
The parade begins at the corner of Ester Loop and Main Street, progresses down Main Street to the Judges’ stand (across from the Golden Eagle Saloon) then follows Village Road to the Old Nenana, past the post office to the park.Sign-up and line-up 11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Marching begins at noon! (Bribes for judges are strongly encouraged!) No pre-registration required.

THE POTLUCK & PICNIC – 1 p.m.
Potluck starts at 1 p.m. In addition to a truly incredible pig, the ECA provides burgers and dogs and some sides/salads.Bring generously sized potluck items to the community park following the parade for ONE FREE ENTRY.

THE PIG
Cuban-style roasted pig is incredible!! We will once again feature a delicious pig with this year’s picnic/potluck.

THE PRICE
Suggested pig roast/potluck donations are $5 kids, $10 adults, $25 family.Donations above costs support the Ester Community Park purchase and operation!

Looking for something lighter? We have limited items available a la carte. Skip the food line and head straight to the grill for:
Hamburger -$4
Hot dog – $2
Water/Soda – $1

THE PICNIC & GAMES
We have a great field to enjoy picnicing and games.Planning to bring your own food instead of potlucking? Please consider leaving a donation in the “appreciation station” by the gazebo to help support the park which offers such enjoyment for so many families for all these years. Or branch out this year and participate in the community potluck. The more who participate the better it is for all!

MEMBERSHIP
The Fourth of July is a great time to contribute to the community by becoming a member of the Ester Community Association. Annual membership is $10, or $25 family.

VOLUNTEER
Want to help? Send an e-mail to [email protected] and the volunteer coordinator will help line out ways you can help including set-up, food table management, grill mastering, clean-up and other duties.

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ECA Spring Meeting

The annual spring membership meeting will be held both in person at Hartung Hall and virtually at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 7.

If you’re not able to attend in person, please email us for the Zoom link.

There is a waiting room enabled and we will not admit you unless we recognize your full name. If you’re new to the ECA please let us know that you’re planning to attend online so we know you’re a real person – you may experience a brief wait before being added to the meeting.

We have a number of matters to discuss as a community including but not limited to.
• Spring work projects & park clean-up
• Park volunteers & summer maintenance
• Mortgage Meeters
• Fourth of July
• Ester Fest
• Community planning meeting
• Plus updates, announcements financial reports, and more!

You must be a current member to vote although the meeting is open to any community member. Membership can be renewed in person or online using our Square site: https://my-site-100388-102972.square.site/

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2022 Fall Membership Meeting

The annual meeting of the nonprofit Ester Community Association, Inc will be held Sunday, October 16, at 4pm, at the Hartung Community Hall – you may attend in person, or via Zoom.

We’ll recap our year and finances, learn about our upcoming events, and make plans for winter in the park. We will also be electing board members – if you’ve wanted to become more engaged in the community this is your chance!

While everyone may attend the meeting, only members whose annual dues are paid (via the website, or in person at the meeting) may vote in the election, or on other issues that may come to a vote.

If you plan to join via Zoom please message or email the ECA for the link.

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2022 Independence Day activities in Ester

Ester 4th of July Parade and Potluck Pig Roast — Interior Alaska’s quirkiest way to celebrate Independence!

THE PARADE:
The parade begins at the corner of Ester Loop and Main Street, progresses down Main Street to the Judges’ stand (across from the Golden Eagle Saloon) then follows Village Road to the Old Nenana, past the post office to the park. Sign-up and line-up 11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Marching begins at noon! (Bribes for judges are strongly encouraged!) No pre-registration required.

THE PIG
Cuban-style roasted pig is incredible!! We will once again feature a delicious pig with this year’s picnic/potluck.

THE POTLUCK & PICNIC – 1 p.m.
The potluck is an important fundraiser for the Ester Community Association as well as a great way to picnic and celebrate our Independence Day.Bring generously sized potluck items to the community park following the parade. Potluck starts at 1 p.m. In addition to a truly incredible pig, the ECA provides burgers and dogs.

Suggested donations are $5 kids, $15 adults, $35 family.

Looking for something lighter? We have limited items available a la carte. Skip the food line and head straight to the grill for:
Hamburger -$5
Hot dog – $3
Water/Soda – $1

Donations above costs support the Ester Community Park purchase and operation!

THE PICNIC & GAMES
We have a great field to enjoy picnicing and games. Planning to bring your own food instead of potlucking? Please consider leaving a donation in the “appreciation station” by the gazebo to help support the park which offers such enjoyment for so many families for all these years. Or branch out this year and participate in the community potluck. The more who participate the better it is for all!

MEMBERSHIP
The Fourth of July is a great time to contribute to the community by becoming a member of the Ester Community Association. Annual membership is $10, or $25 family.

VOLUNTEER
Want to help? Send an e-mail to [email protected] and the volunteer coordinator will help line out ways you can help including set-up, food table management, grill mastering, clean-up and other duties. Thanks! 

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Thank you for a fantastic Chili Feed!

Thank you Ester!! Our Chili Feed was a wonderful time and we raised over $1,000 for the Ester COMMUNITY Park. More than 80 people passed through throughout the day to enjoy a bite and support the park. Amazing!!

Special thanks to—

Chili makers: Meagan, LJ, Monique, Hillary, Amy, Janice, Ritchie, Amanda and Diandra. Plus Jamie for the inspired mac & cheese!

Desserts: Monique, Meagan, Amy, Ritchie, Melissa and Jennifer. So delicious!!

Cornbread/breads: LJ, Meagan, Carol, Margaret and Alex.

And special thanks to the ECA board members— Meagan for bringing all the fixings, bowls and utensils; Monique, Janice, LJ, Meagan and Amanda for working the event and helping with set-up and clean-up; and everyone who helped spread the word and organize this year’s feed.

A special mention to Jesse, Bryan and Hannah for playing some beautiful tunes.

And last but not least a huge thanks to Doug and Hillary at The Golden Eagle Saloon for hosting us, and bartenders Chadwik and Jamie for taking care of us all day.

We are so lucky to have such a great community. #EsterRocks

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The Chili Feed is back! March 19, 2022 – 2 – 8 p.m.

Bowl of chili
Donations of chili, desserts and cornbread are requested for 1:45 p.m., 4 p.m. and/or 6 p.m.

The annual Chili Feed is a celebration of spring in Ester. Go play at the park, or on the hills and trails around Ester, and then join community members for chili, cornbread and dessert at the Golden Eagle. You must be 21+ or with legal guardian.

Suggested donation $10 individual; $25 family. All proceeds go to the purchase and maintenance of the Ester Community Park!

Donations of chili, cornbread and desserts are always welcome!!

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Calling all volunteers to join the Park Committee!

The ECA is looking for a few dedicated volunteers to assist with park maintenance and to help recruit a new Park Director. It takes a lot of work to keep the park in top shape and we need more hands to help make the process work. Please contact [email protected] if you’re interested in being a part.

ICE USERS GROUP: Secondly we need to gather together a user group to assist with ice installation and maintenance including snow removal and flooding.

Unless we find heated storage for Alice (our Olympia ice resurfacer) will will not be able to use it this winter. Please contact us if you have a lead on heated space, or another solution for ice maintenance. We sure love having the rink in top shape, but we can’t do that without help!

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ECA Fall Membership Meeting

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 AT 4 PM AKDT

The annual fall Ester Community Association membership meeting will be held virtually on Sunday, September 19 at 4 p.m. via Zoom.

There is a waiting room enabled – you may experience a brief wait before being added to the meeting. To reduce bandwith please keep your camera off and stay on mute unless ready to speak.

We will be electing board members as well as providing updates on the year’s activities. Annual membership must be renewed in order to vote.

Membership can be renewed online using our Square site: https://my-site-100388-102972.square.site/

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